2018 DDC Consultants Open House Draws Over 300 to Learn of the City’s Project Pipeline

Long Island City, NY – About 300 representatives from architecture, engineering and construction firms assembled at the offices of the New York City Department of Design and Construction today (DDC) for the DDC’s Annual Consultants Open House. The event informs firms that seek to do business with the City about upcoming DDC projects and how they can better navigate the City’s bidding, contracting and construction processes.

DDC Chief Architect Margaret Castillo addresses the audience at the agency’s 2018 Consultant’s Open House in Long Island City, Queens

“Today’s consultants open house grows the pool of firms that compete for City business, helping DDC to build the City more efficiently and with input from a greater variety of experts,” said DDC Acting Commissioner Ana Barrio. “Businesses learn how to earn City contracts and how to plan their workloads, and they’re able to network with colleagues and DDC professionals. These types of events are very important at a time when DDC is taking on more projects in a variety of settings.”

Representatives from architecture and engineering firms across New York City were presented with projects in the department’s pipeline, including in infrastructure and public buildings. The open house featured an address by DDC Acting Commissioner Ana Barrio, as well as presentations by senior staff in the architecture and engineering, construction management, infrastructure design and program management departments.

“As a small firm, we love the inclusive tier system rendered by the DDC because it allows us to compete for contracts in a fair way,” said Ms. Karim Palomino, Director of Transportation at KB Engineering. “The open house lets us meet face to face with clients and consultants, and it is overwhelmingly beneficial to have that interface in a competitive city like New York. Mingling and networking is essential to our growth.”

Today, DDC manages 1,196 active projects for 27 different City agencies – 546 projects in Public Buildings valued at $4.3 billion, and 650 projects in Infrastructure valued at $9.5 billion – for a total value of more than $13.8 billion. The agency’s portfolio value is expected to rise to $17 billion by the year 2020.

The Department of Design and Construction is the City’s primary capital construction project manager. In supporting Mayor de Blasio’s long-term vision of growth, sustainability, resiliency, equity and healthy living, DDC provides communities with new or renovated public buildings such as such as firehouses, libraries, police precincts, and new or upgraded roads, sewers and water mains in all five boroughs. To manage this $14 billion portfolio, DDC partners with other City agencies, architects and consultants, whose experience bring efficient, innovative and environmentally-conscious design and construction strategies to City projects. For more information, please visit nyc.gov/ddc.